INVESTIGATORS who tackle loan sharks have been told their jobs are safe after Birmingham was chosen to host a nationwide crackdown.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has committed £5.2 million funding for 2011 to tackle illegal money lenders with similar sums pledged for the following two years.

Three teams will now cover England, Scotland and Wales.

The Birmingham-based team which currently covers five regions across the UK, has been told it will take over investigations for England with the work of four other teams merged into its operations.

There had been fears the Illegal Money Lending team could be axed as part of Government spending cuts but boss Jacqui Kennedy said the announcement secured the future of the successful team.

“We’re really proud the Birmingham-based team delivered efficiently and effectively on the project,” said Mrs Kennedy, director of Regulatory Services at Birmingham City Council.

“We started in 2004 when an illegal money lender had not been prosecuted in England for 20 years.

“However, we made it our job to tackle these ruthless criminals. I’m immensely proud the Government has chosen Birmingham to host the national team for England.”

The decision protects the jobs of about 20 members of staff in the city and is anticipated to see further jobs created with some of the investment paying for an increase in the number of investigators.

Financial Inclusion officers, who work with communities across the regions that have been blighted by loan sharks, will remain within their areas.

In the past six years, the Birmingham team has secured more than 50 years worth of custodial sentences against loan sharks, seized £520,000 in cash, 12 guns and £100,000 of counterfeit goods.

They have also helped more than 11,500 victims break free from the cycle of debt and violence.

Consumer Minister Edward Davey said he was confident the new structure would be successful, adding: “They are taking the fight to loan sharks in communities.”